Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the Government's Budget Statement, a lot of promises were made on tackling the electricity crisis. In it the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, stated that every household will be provided with electricity credit. I acknowledge this measure is a huge help for most households but I have a constituent who raised the issue of one electricity meter covering two dwellings: one home and one independent granny flat where the inhabitant is in receipt of palliative care which requires significant electricity use. Having one electricity meter covering two dwellings impacts both houses' entitlement to the electricity credit. It costs approximately €4,000 to install an additional meter, which is not feasible in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. These dwellings are inhabited and maintained independently, the only combined aspect being the single meter.

Will the Government bring in the necessary legislation to grant eligibility for electricity credits to independent dwellings or granny flats which currently share one meter? Parents are letting siblings and family move into their homes rather than go homeless and siblings are letting parents who have medical needs move into their home rather than into nursing homes.

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